Question:
What ever you do, DONT do the midwest regional run, no detention pay fiasco. You will spend more time doing a trailer serch for little or no money. The company as a whole has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Most people go to there school get there CDL and then find a real company to drive for..............I know im not supporting my case regarding this company, but take it from me , they have no problem busting your arse and not compensateing you for it. This guy that heads the midwest regional division name is mitch, what a clown......If your going to sign up w them bring vasoline................

Answer:

Reality time Driver,they ALL operate on that premise.
You should be able to do "better" due to your location anyway.
Answer:
Heard something similar from a USX driver at the Harvard (AR) railyard... seems that he had been stuck for a week (or so he said) doing shags / shorthauls... guess he was not getting shag pay or shorthaul flatrate since he was moaning about money, or at least not enuf of it...

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Certainly something to moan about. maybe both of these guys are not commercial tourists. honeymoon might be over ? where in for some ??? its never over ?Whoa is me. Yup, put the brakes on the trucking crapola and haven't looked back.


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That statement is simply not true.
I've had nothing but excellent results with this company, and have had none of these problems. On Dec. 1st, pay rates increase across the board (again), with a graduated increase for short runs (and $70 min. for cross-town type runs). 1yr. exp. drivers get .41 cpm for 300 mile runs or less, .37 cpm for 600-300, and so on...
Btw, to get detention pay, you have to arrive on time to begin with, and send in all your macros properly. Not saying your FM wasn't a slacker, that's always possible, but you also have a driver liaison to help settle any problems. Did you contact him/her?
Answer:
1st, pay rates increase across the board (again), with a graduated increase for short runs (and $70 min. for cross-town type runs). 1yr. exp. drivers get .41 cpm for 300 mile runs or less, .37 cpm for 600-300, and so on...
dude, 4 a student driver outa there school its more likely to be the case in which a driver for the 1 st year will recieve, 25 cents permile for 6 months, 1200 to 1500 miles a week, now deduct the 50 u owe to there school, dont forget food............call the old lady back home.....Detention time is non existent(mitch and my dispatcher were evil people)......thats a another 2 bucks a week........jamed+ slamed+whamed= less then 100 bucks play money.......MIDWEST reginol................= SCREWED

Answer:

Which is why MOST of us say do NOT attend a Company run school!!!
And most I know who work for USX get more than 1200 - 1500 miles, maybe you just have to learn to "work" the industry? I know it's hard being a newbie, especially a fresh out of school student, but if you want something to work, you have to work on it and for it! - Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust

Answer:
Regional runs often, not always but often, involve exchanging miles for something else like a higher pay rate and/or more home time.
Beyond that Fairedust has made a good point. With any type of irregular route driving job a driver must learn the system and figure out how to make it work for them. It is not an easy thing to do, and every time you switch companies you start all over unless you get very lucky and happen to have a really good dispatcher who truly takes care of their drivers.
On the flip side of that coin is that it is entirely possible to find yourself in a situation where there are no outs other than quitting and looking for another job.
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SOOOOOOO right Uturn!!!!!! Many cannot handle it, many are afraid to admit just that and live in a hateful existence. I have a true belief, if you don't like your job quit, you might need to find a new one BEFORE you do that, but there are jobs out there! No one should ever go to a place they hate EVERY day of their career. - Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust

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OK, lets be honest for the new bees sake, someone has to eat the crow and its the new guy, I hope u guys sleep well at nite screwing others, U get the good runs someone takes the bad ones. Just do me this favor when u see some new guy busting his (edited) do what u can 4 him, arfter all he is doing half your job, well the crapy part anyways, too tired to type, translate

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Don't know if this helps but as for "regional runs" at my company Shaffer I consistently get 2000-2400 miles every week with 48 hours at home weekends so you definately can get better miles on those runs.....
not sure about USX but would think they would have no drivers if only giving them 1200-1500 all the time I'm in love with my sweet angel Cindy !!!!!

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Who are you talking about? No one here is screwing anyone.
Those of us here, who post regularly to the Newbie board have, between us, made every single mistake there is to make and then some. We have also, between us, have had success with things and pass on what we have learned.
No ne denies that there is not problems and issues in this biz of trucking, that there are issues with various companies. All we do is try to make others aware of those issues and try to provide suggestions on how to deal with them and hopefully help others improve their situation.
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OK, LETS BE HONEST: there is NO ONE here screwing anyone.... well they might be, but that is a personal matter between THEM. Those of us here have BEEN there DONE that! It is why we can offer advice. As for doing the new guy a favor, well I have BEEN there and DONE that too! I would try to help, but MOST newbie's, have the chip on the shoulder attitude this post demonstrates. If they are going to survive in trucking; they must learn to take the good with the bad, the bad with the horrible, and STILL smile about it! We've all done bad loads, we've all biatched about them, we just have the fortitude to know that if we stick it out there might be that perfect load, 2800 miles with four days to get it there! So, yeah right now your job seems crappy to you, life is what you make out of it, trucking is NO different!!! When life give's you lemons you make lemonade.
Sounds like you are very unhappy, plus you have a commitment to fulfill because YOU went to a company school. Sounds like the time has come, suck it up or leave. Yes, you'll have to pay them back, but MAYBE you can find some happiness! USX is NOT the ONLY company out there, heck there are others, some worse, some better, and some that I wouldn't let a dog go into. Borrow the money, get out of USX if YOU hate it this much! But it sounds like to ME, that you are not going to be happy trucking. Maybe OTR is NOT for YOU? Heck in EVERY job you start at the bottom as chump and work your way up to head Indian, that's life. Did you think trucking was different?
Like I said before many cannot handle it if you're finding that out, get out as fast as you can. Go back to doing the job you did before, if that no longer exists, find something new, but don't take some Holier than Thou attitude when all we have done is try to help and make suggestions. As for doing part of someone else's job, sugar you could NOT handle MY schedule or MY job!
- Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust

Answer:
Why is it, day after day, I continue to read that people are unhappy with there driving jobs....complaints about poor pay, poor working conditions and such?
It's shocking to me how many people get into this business and don't do any homework about those they apply to work for. If you fail to ask questions and fail to negotiate a FAIR wage who have you got to blame? That's right...YOURSELF!
Sorry kids.....it's time you wake up, decide for yourselves what you're worth and quit settling for so little. If you really feel you are worth 42 cpm and the guy you pull fur won't pay.....find the guy that will.
I know companies out here still paying 26 cpm....you know why? Because people are willing to work for 26 cpm. I'm a o/o with 1 truck.....I pay 40 cpm to my team and still make a little for me, not great pay but more than many companies will pay. QUIT ALLOWING YOURSELVES TO BE ABUSED!

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It's NOT just the trucking industry! People are afraid to ask for what they think they are worth! I am a prime example,
I have enough Management skills and experience that I can do it blindfolded. When I was looking for work, I applied to the lower paying, no responsibility, and jobs that required NO brains. I was continually told I was over qualified, but I had a plan. Easier job, more time for school, but it wasn't working, finally I started applying for jobs that actually fit my skills and was offered a few of them; of course as soon as I took one the offers really started coming in, but I'm happy where I am. I have enough responsibility to keep me busy, yet enough down time to let me study.
Point of this little rant: Most people would rather take the easy way!- Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust